Links to national curricula The sections in this test have been carefully designed to sample the main English skills set out in the national curricula for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Specific links to each of these are set out in the following tables. England Table 1: Links between sections of the test and relevant aspects of the National Curriculum for England (2014). 1 Year 3-4 Programme of Study: Writing - transcription use further prefixes and suffixes and understand how to add them spell further homophones spell words that are often misspelt. Year 3-4 Programme of Study: Writing - transcription place the possessive apostrophe accurately in words with regular plurals [for example, girls, boys ] and in words with irregular plurals [for example, children s]. Year 3-4 Programme of Study: Writing - composition evaluate and edit by: o proposing changes to grammar and vocabulary to improve consistency proof-read for (spelling and) punctuation errors. 1 The relevant aspects of the national curriculum in England sampled within this test have been extracted from the Years 3 and 4 programme of study for English. The full programme of study requirements can be viewed online at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-curriculum 1
Year 3-4 Programme of Study: Writing - vocabulary, grammar and punctuation develop their understanding of the concepts of vocabulary, grammar and punctuation by: o extending the range of sentences with more than one clause by using a wider range of conjunctions, including when, if, because, although o using conjunctions, adverbs and prepositions indicate grammar and other features by: o indicating possession by using the possessive apostrophe with plural nouns use and understand grammatical terminology accurately and appropriately. Year 3-4 Programme of Study: Reading - comprehension develop positive attitudes to reading and understanding of what they have read by: o reading for a range of purposes o increasing their familiarity with a wide range of books o identifying themes and conventions in a wide range of books understand what they read, in books they can read independently, by: o checking that the text makes sense to them and explaining the meaning of words in context o drawing inferences such as inferring characters feelings, thoughts and motives from their actions o identifying main ideas drawn from more than one paragraph o identifying how language, structure, and presentation contribute to meaning retrieve and record information from non-fiction. 2
Wales Table 2: Links between sections of the test and relevant aspects of the National Curriculum for Wales (2008). 2 Key Stage 2 Programme of Study Writing Skills Pupils should be given opportunities to: develop and use a variety of strategies to enable them to spell correctly. Key Stage 2 Programme of Study Writing Skills Pupils should be given opportunities to: use a range of sentence structures, linking them coherently use punctuation to clarify meaning including full stop, exclamation and question marks, comma, apostrophe, bullet points, speech marks choose and use appropriate vocabulary use the standard forms of English: nouns, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, connectives and verb tenses. Key Stage 2 Programme of Study - Reading Skills Pupils should be given opportunities to: develop phonic, graphic and grammatical knowledge, word recognition and contextual understanding develop their ability to read with fluency, accuracy, understanding and enjoyment read in different ways for different purposes, including: o skimming, scanning and detailed reading o using prediction, inference and deduction o distinguishing between fact and opinion, bias and objectivity in what they read/view recognise and understand the characteristics of different genres in terms of language, structure and presentation consider what they read/view, responding in writing to the ideas, vocabulary, style, presentation and organisation of image and language. 2 The relevant aspects of English in the National Curriculum for Wales sampled within this test have been extracted from the Key Stage 2 Programme of Study. The full programme of study requirements can be viewed online at learning.gov.wales/resources 3
Table 3: Links between sections of the test and relevant aspects of the National Literacy Framework of Wales (2013). 3 Literacy - Writing across the curriculum (Year 4) Writing accurately - Learners are able to: use strategies including knowledge of word families, roots, morphology, derivations and graphic knowledge to spell words, e.g. words with more complex patterns. Literacy - Writing across the curriculum (Year 4) Writing accurately - Grammar and punctuation Learners are able to: use adjectival and adverbial phrases to add interest and precision use connectives to show links within sentences use punctuation to demarcate sentences and begin to use speech marks, commas to mark clauses and phrases, and apostrophes for omission, e.g. it s (it is). Literacy - Reading across the curriculum (Year 4) Locating, selecting and using information - Reading strategies Learners are able to: use a range of strategies to make meaning from words and sentences, including knowledge of phonics, words roots, word families, syntax, text organisation and prior knowledge of context read texts, including those with few visual clues, independently with concentration use understanding of sentence structure and punctuation to make meaning scan for specific information using a variety of features in texts, e.g. titles, illustrations, key words identify how texts differ in purpose, structure and layout. Responding to what has been read Comprehension Learners are able to: accurately identify the main points and supporting information in texts deduce connections between information, e.g. sequence, importance explore information and ideas beyond their personal experience. Responding to what has been read Response and analysis select and use information and ideas from texts. 3 The relevant aspects of the National Literacy and Numeracy Framework sampled within this test have been extracted from Literacy Reading across the curriculum (Key Stage 2) and Literacy Writing across the curriculum (Key Stage 2). These documents can be viewed online at http://learning.wales.gov.uk/resources/nlnf/?lang=en 4
Scotland Table 4: Links between sections of the test and the relevant aspects of the Curriculum for Excellence in Scotland (2009). 4 Literacy and English: experiences and outcomes Tools for writing I can spell most of the words I need to communicate, using spelling rules, specialist vocabulary and self-correction techniques. Literacy and English: experiences and outcomes Tools for writing I can use appropriate punctuation and vary my sentence structures. Literacy and English: experiences and outcomes Tools for reading Through developing my knowledge of context clues, punctuation, grammar and layout, I can read unfamiliar texts with increasing fluency and understanding I can select and use a range of strategies before I read, and as I read, to make meaning clear. Finding and using information Using what I know about the features of different types of texts, I can find, select and sort information from a variety of sources and use this for different purposes. Understanding, analysing and evaluating To show my understanding across different areas of learning, I can identify and consider the purpose and main ideas of a text and use supporting detail To show my understanding, I can respond to literal, inferential and evaluative questions and other close reading tasks To help me develop an informed view, I can identify the difference between fact and opinion I can: o discuss structure, characterisation and/or setting o discuss the writer s style and other features appropriate to genre. 4 The relevant aspects of the Curriculum for Excellence sampled within this test have been extracted from the first curriculum level (to the end of P4) of Literacy and English: experiences and outcomes. The Curriculum for Excellence can be viewed online at http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/learningteachingandassessment/ curriculumareas/languages/litandenglish/eandos/index.asp 5
Northern Ireland Table 5: Links between sections of the test and the relevant aspects of the Northern Ireland Curriculum. 5 Language and Literacy - Key Stage 2 Writing Pupils should be enabled to: use a variety of skills to spell words correctly. Language and Literacy - Key Stage 2 Writing Pupils should be enabled to: develop increasing competence in the use of grammar and punctuation to create clarity of meaning. Language and Literacy - Key Stage 2 Reading Pupils should be enabled to: read, explore, understand and make use of a wide range of traditional and digital texts engage in sustained, independent and silent reading for enjoyment and information represent their understanding of texts in a range of ways consider and interpret texts, exploring the ways in which language can be manipulated in order to affect the reader or engage attention justify their responses logically, by inference, deduction and/or reference to evidence within the text use a range of cross-checking strategies to read unfamiliar words in texts use a variety of reading skills for different reading purposes. 5 The relevant aspects of the Northern Ireland Curriculum sampled within this test have been extracted from the statutory requirements for Language and Literacy at Key Stage 1. Full details can be viewed online at http://www. nicurriculum.org.uk/key_stages_1_and_2/areas_of_learning/language_and_literacy/ 6
Table 6: Links between sections of the test and relevant aspects of the Primary Assessment Arrangements for Communication (2013/14). 6 Requirements for Communication Levels 2 to 4 Writing Pupils can: spell and write common and familiar words recognisably (L2) spell and write frequently used and topic words correctly (L3) use accurate grammar and spellings on most occasions (L4) Requirements for Communication Levels 2 to 4 Writing Pupils can: use basic punctuation (L2) use basic punctuation and grammar accurately (L3) use linking words within sentences (L4) use a range of punctuation accurately (L4) use accurate grammar and spellings on most occasions (L4) Requirements for Communication Levels 2 to 4 Reading Pupils can: understand, recount and sequence events and information (L2) recognise, understand and sequence main points (L3) show understanding by indentifying information (L4) use a range of reading strategies (L2) choose and use reading strategies independently (L3) read independently (L4) select information for a purpose (L2) use visual clues to locate information (L2) use organisational features to locate and obtain information (L3) locate relevant information and use it appropriately (L4) recognise some forms and features of texts (L2) understand that there are different forms and features of texts (L3) make deductions using information from the text (L3) recognise main features and understand how these are linked to form and purpose (L4) understand explicit meanings and recognise some implicit meanings (L4) 6 The relevant aspects of the Primary Assessment Arrangements for Communication sampled within this test have been extracted from the Levels of Progression in Communication across the curriculum (Levels 2 and 3). Full details can be viewed online at ccea.org.uk/curriculum/key_stage_1_2/assessment 7
Feedback to parents and carers A report on the individual pupil is available to support feedback to parents or carers. This Individual report for parents strips away much of the technical detail that is included in the Group report for teachers, simply presenting the pupil s results as English skills bias, reading comprehension bias or balanced profile. A series of statements, tailored for parents, is included to explain what the results mean (in terms of the profile of learning bias demonstrated by the pupil on the test) and how learning may be affected. Recommendations focus on how the parent or carer can work with the school to support the pupil at home. In addition to the Individual report for parents, you may wish to provide supporting information, either orally or in writing, explaining the process and outcomes. The following list provides you with guidelines to assist with this communication. Stress the school s commitment to identifying and addressing the needs of each individual pupil in order to understand and maximise their potential. Explain that testing with Progress Test in English 9 is part of the school s regular assessment regime and that all pupils in the year group(s) have been tested. Explain that there are three component parts to Progress Test in English 9, each measuring the child s skills in a different area of English. You may wish to summarise the specific outcomes and recommendations from the test for that individual pupil (which are also shown on the Individual report for parents). Parents or carers should be reassured that, if they have any questions or concerns or would like any further advice on how best to support their child, then they should contact the school. 8
A sample letter is provided (Figure 1) to support your communications with parents / carers after testing with Progress Test in English 9. Figure 1: Sample parent / carer feedback letter Dear Parent or Carer, In school, we wish to assess all our pupils to see what their needs are and how we can best help them learn and achieve. As part of this process, your child has completed the Progress Test in English 9, which assesses key aspects of English, such as phonic knowledge and skills, spelling, grammar and punctuation, and reading comprehension. A copy of the Individual report for parents is included 7. This shows your child s results and describes what these mean in terms of the ways in which he/she will learn best and how you can support him/her at home. [If the report is not included a relevant short extract can be included instead.] If you have any queries or concerns please contact us. Yours faithfully, [School/establishment name] 7 If possible, it is helpful to parents to discuss the report with them on a suitable occasion before sending it out. 9